Aloe plant named Aloejaws

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aloe  cultivar named ‘Aloejaws’ which is characterized by the combination of an upright growth habit, compact size, dark green foliage with an abundance of spines, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation. The new variety is a  Aloe , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2014/3484, filed Dec. 18, 2014, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Aloe melanacantha A. Berger.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Aloe disclosed herein has been given thevariety denomination ‘Aloejaws’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Aloe variety ‘Aloejaws’ originated as a naturallyoccurring, partial-plant mutation of the species Aloe melanacantha (nota named variety or cultivar). The inventor of ‘Aloejaws’ is a commercialornamental plant producer whom regularly discovers basal shoot mutationsof the species Aloe melanacantha at his greenhouse operation inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. For said mutations which seem to exhibitcommercial potential, cuttings are taken to produce trial plants whichare subsequently grown for evaluation. Several of such mutations wereisolated for evaluation based on darker green coloration of the leaf incombination with other desirable characteristics such as compactness ofthe plant, upright growth habit, shorter leaves and an abundance offoliar spines. The combination of compactness and upright growth habitresults in plants which require less greenhouse bench space forproduction, less space for shipping and a reduced risk of leaf spinescoming into contact with the grower or consumer.

The variety now called ‘Aloejaws’ was initially discovered in 2011 asone such mutation of the parent plant. At the time of discovery,cuttings were taken and the resulting plants were evaluated at theinventor's greenhouse. After further evaluation it was determined thatthe candidate's dark green foliage, compact size, upright growth habit,shorter leaves and abundance of white foliar spines would provefavorable for commercial marketability. The new variety was given thebreeder denomination ‘Aloejaws’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘Aloejaws’ was first asexually propagated by leaftip cuttings in October of 2011 at a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands and has since been vegetatively propagated and mericlonedthrough seven additional generation. Through subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Aloejaws’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Aloejaws’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Aloejaws’ as a new and distinct Aloe cultivar:

1. Aloe ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits dark green foliage; and

2. ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits an upright growth habit; and

3. ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits short leaves and a compact size; and

4. ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits an abundance of white foliar spines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘Aloejaws’ grown in a grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted ina 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘Aloejaws’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements describe a twelve month-old‘Aloejaws’ plant grown in 12 cm nursery pots at a commercial greenhousein Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plants were grown in full sun tosemi-shade. Plants were maintained with a standard fertility program forplants of this type and regularly watered with overhead irrigation aswell as through use of ebb-and-flow hydroponic greenhouse benches. Nochemical pest measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Aloejaws’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘Aloejaws’ and comparisons with othervarieties of Aloe are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Broad and upright; overall shape is globular            to broad oblong.        -   Average height.—16.5 cm, from the soil level to the highest            leaf.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 19.6 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate; approximately 2 cm per month.        -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings and mericloning.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 3 weeks to initiate            roots at temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Celsius.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 6 weeks to            produce a rooted cutting.        -   Disease resistance.—High disease resistance, similar to the            parent.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Tolerates temperatures ranging from            approximately 12 to 45 degrees Celsius.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Thick; not fibrous.        -   Texture.—Slightly fleshy.        -   Color.—Greyed-red, near RHS 178A to 178B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Basal rosette. New rosettes are formed at the            base of the main rosette, approximately 2 per plant. No            stems or lateral branches, the leaves form a stem-like            structure not consisting of a stem as such, but only            consisting of the leaf sheaths.        -   Abundance; density.—Approximately 41 leaves per plant.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 11.4 cm long (excluding the leaf            sheath) and 3.6 cm wide. Thickness — Approximately 0.9 cm.            Shape of blade — Lanceolate; slightly carinate. Aspect —            Leaves held at an angle of approximately 65 degrees from            horizontal. Apex — Acuminate. Base — Sheathing. Margin —            Spined. Texture of adaxial surface — Glabrous, moderately            glossy. Texture of abaxial surface — Glabrous, slightly            glossy; sparsely to moderately covered with soft spines of            average length of 1.5 mm and colored white, near RHS NN155D.            Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green near RHS            137C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Green near RHS            137C; spines along the leaf margin are yellow-green, near            RHS 145C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Green near RHS            NN137A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Green, in between            near RHS 137A and NN137A; spines along the leaf margin are            lighter, near RHS 138C to 138D. Venation — No veins are            visible.        -   Sheath.—Sheath length — Average 2.1 cm. Sheath width —            Average 4.0 cm. Sheath color — Adaxial surface is white to            orange-white; in between near RHS 155B and 159D, veined            greyed-purple RHS 187C. Abaxial surface is white RHS NN155A            and veined greyed-yellow near RHS 160A.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

Comparisons with the Parent Plants

‘Aloejaws’ is similar in many horticultural characteristics to itsparent plant, Aloe melanacantha. However ‘Aloejaws’ differs from itsparent in the following characteristics:

1. ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits a more upright growth habit when compared to Aloemelanacantha.

2. ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits a smaller plant size when compared to Aloemelanacantha.

3. ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits shorter leaves when compared to the leaves ofAloe melanacantha.

4. The foliage color of ‘Aloejaws’ is dark green, whereas the foliagecolor of Aloe melanacantha is a lighter green color.

5. The foliage of ‘Aloejaws’ exhibits more spines per leaf when comparedto Aloe melanacantha.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aloe plantnamed ‘Aloejaws’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.